Vaccinations and testing for VCSE sector frontline health and care staff against COVID-19
Staff and volunteers in the voluntary community and social enterprise sector have played a major role in the community response to COVID-19. We want to make sure all workers who directly provide frontline support AND who are working with people clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 across the city can work safely and access COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as possible, wherever they work, whoever they work for, whether as an employee or as a volunteer. Find out more and register your organisation
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: step by step guide for employers - This Gov.uk guide explains the information that employers need to provide to claim for their employees’ wages
Changes to the Job Support Scheme: guidance from Wrigleys Solicitors
Amendments to the Government Furlough Scheme from 1 July 2021 (HR advice, correct at the time of 6 July, thanks to CBR Business Solutions)
From the 1 July the Government’s Furlough/ job retention scheme changes with employers now contributing to furloughed employees’ wages. The government will drop its financial contributions from providing 80 per cent of employees’ wages for the time they are not working to 70 per cent. Employers will have to contribute that 10 per cent, as well as the National Insurance and pension contributions they are already paying.
From 1 July 2021, the level of grant will be reduced and you will be asked to contribute towards the cost of your furloughed employees’ wages. To be eligible for the grant you must continue to pay your furloughed employees 80% of their wages, up to a cap of £2,500 per month for the time they spend on furlough.
The government’s contribution is currently set to decrease again to 60 per cent in August and September, with employers due to pay 20 per cent of wages for hours not worked, before the scheme ends on 30 September.
Read more here
Some templates below for things you may need to put in place if you have paid staff.
Coronavirus template and policy guidance: COVID19: a Guide for Third-Sector Managers
DCS Home-working protocol - for you to adapt and use
Homeworking Policy: Employees from Daniel Barnett’s HR Policies 2020
Homeworking Policy: Volunteers adapted by Sandy Adirondack from Daniel Barnett’s HR Policies 2020
Covid-19 Vaccination Policy for Employees – The purpose of this policy is to set out your organisations stance on the vaccine as it affects your employees.
Covid-19 Vaccination Policy for Volunteers – The purpose of this policy is to set out your organisations stance on the vaccine as it affects your volunteers.
Bates Wells mini guide – Covid jab: what do you need to know from a HR perspective?
Managing Operational Risks - In the current crisis, organisations may find themselves forced to take urgent decisions under pressure. Occasionally this will require a major service review. However, it is more likely to be about adapting to lockdown and finding different ways to deliver existing services, which is the focus of this guidance.
NAVCA Coronavirus risk assessment template
Temporary Homeworking Policy from Brodies LLP
Gov.uk Guidance for employers and businesses
Health and Safety Executive - Advice on homeworking for employers
Step by Step – Recruitment for a remote world by Charity People
Croner have a free HR helpline for all voluntary sector organisations - call 0844 561 8133
Acas: Coronavirus – an advisory webinar for employers - The webinar covered: steps that can help reduce the spread of the virus; effective ways of communicating with employees; self-isolating, time off, sickness certification and sick pay; altering working hours, shift patterns and working arrangements; and remote working and the use of technology.
National Cyber Security Centre advice on remote working
Going remote overnight – preparing for the Coronavirus
Tips from Mind: Supporting your team's mental health whilst homeworking
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations and external quality assurance providers - This document from Gov.uk sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of COVID-19. It outlines the changes that the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is making to the apprenticeship programme during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read the guidance
You may have specific questions on how to manage your organisation in relation to the outbreak, particularly if you have employees and volunteers. Employees may be concerned about arrangements for sick pay particularly if they need to self-isolate in line with current government and NHS guidance. Advice for employers and employees from Acas here